OUTREACH
As a "sending church" Redeemer’s strives to balance both the biblical mandate to the church with its own philosophy of ministry as unpacked in our mission statement. Therefore it is the priority of Redeemer’s to:
DEVELOP WHOLEHEARTED FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST... those people who are willing to do anything God asks them to do or go anywhere that God calls them to go
...WHO LOVE GOD. It is the motivator for loving one another or the lost world
...WHO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Loving one another involves mutual investment. Regarding missions, it involves respect, trust, integrity, care, prayer support, financial support, and more
...WHO LOVE THE WORLD. To understand the infinite value that God places on the individual human soul...wherever they live.
At Redeemer’s, we do not relegate missions to individuals or a certain group but are convinced that we best reach others cross-culturally if we do so as a whole church. The selection process of who goes and where they go, how and how much we support a person, our faithful prayers, and encouragement—all require involvement from the whole fellowship in all our diversity of giftedness. Thus, we require a say and a hand in all missions that we support.
WHY SHOULD WE INVEST TIME AND RESOURCES IN REACHING THE WORLD,
WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY LOCAL NEEDS?
OUR MANDATE: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)
In this age of the world, between the death and resurrection of Christ and His return, the Church is God's rescue operation to all who are spiritually lost. Every person needs to hear the Good News in a way that makes sense to him/her, so he/she can respond in repentance and faith to the offer of forgiveness and new life. Thus we believe that each person is either participating in God's rescue operation or is in need of it. As it was in the first few decades of the Church's existence, so it is today: the Holy Spirit will guide and empower us as we faithfully proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
OUR METHOD: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
We believe that the biblical mandate given the Church by Christ is world evangelization, yet world evangelism starts at home and is the process of proclaiming the Good News to others so that they grasp what Jesus did on their behalf, and understand the response God demands of them as a result. In our local community, many are coming to Christ, taking the obedient step of baptism, and beginning the journey of wholeheartedly following Christ.
The intention of evangelism is always that the hearer place his/her faith in Christ as Savior and Lord and become a disciple of Jesus in Christian fellowship. We recognize that it is a process, and may involve many other prior steps (e.g., establishing a relationship with the person, evaluating convictions, and meeting physical needs). These steps are critical whether at home or abroad.
OUR MODEL: Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:1-3)
Several observations should be made from the above passage:
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The first missionaries were already serving in the church, they were already doing the work of evangelism among the localized church.
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It is God who calls the missionary into service.
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The church's leaders were active participants in the process of both hearing the call of God on those set apart for missionary service and sending them as an extension of the local church.
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This process was important, and intentional, and is as vital today as it was for the first-century church.
WHY ISN'T THERE MORE MISSIONS INFORMATION ON THE REDEEMER'S WEBSITE?
Many of the missionaries that Redeemer’s supports, financially and through prayer, work among Unreached People Groups (UPG’s). UPG’s are defined as groups of people where there are few or no followers of Jesus making disciples among their own people. UPG’s may be unreached because of cultural, linguistic or geographical barriers, but these days it is more often political factors that keep people separated from the opportunity to hear the Good News (i.e., government prohibitions against evangelism). In many countries that contain UPG’s, it is illegal to be a missionary. Therefore, we can’t post information about our missionaries without putting them in jeopardy.
For those who are interested in pursuing a calling to career missions, contact Mike Kildal at 541.672.0230 or by EMAIL.